Established in 1993 as a benchmark for operating a successful Steelcase dealership, the Exemplary Performance Award is the highest honor bestowed upon a Steelcase dealer. The application process and criteria are patterned after the prestigious Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award, and include everything from customer satisfaction to quality in service to efficient business practices.

For Steelcase dealers, simply making the decision to apply for the Exemplary Performance Award is a huge commitment: a six-month-long application process that involves a 30-page application and on-site visits. However, in 1999, 20 Steelcase dealers out of 360 in the US and Canada made that commitment, and only nine were named Exemplary Performance Award dealers.